Gbajabiamila says no state police can operate until constitutional amendment secures approval from state assemblies.

The Federal Government has commenced the process of developing the legal and operational framework for the establishment of state police in Nigeria, introducing a seven-week programme to produce a comprehensive National Policing Bill.

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Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, explaining that the proposed legislation would define the structure, powers, responsibilities and operations of both federal and state police institutions. He stressed that the bill is intended to provide the detailed legal framework required for a dual policing system.

Gbajabiamila clarified that no state police service currently exists in Nigeria, noting that the Nigeria Police Force remains the only constitutionally recognised policing institution. According to him, the constitutional amendment passed by the National Assembly has not yet taken effect because it still requires approval by the required number of state Houses of Assembly.

He explained that while the constitutional amendment would create the legal basis for state policing, additional legislation is necessary to address operational issues such as command structure, funding, oversight, accountability, and the relationship between federal and state police authorities.

The presidential aide recalled that the Senate approved the constitutional proposal on June 24, 2026, while the House of Representatives passed the Executive State Police Bill on July 23, 2026. However, he noted that implementation cannot begin until the constitutional amendment process is completed.

According to Gbajabiamila, the seven-week drafting exercise will focus on producing a robust National Policing Bill capable of addressing constitutional and operational challenges, while incorporating safeguards against political interference, abuse of power and overlapping responsibilities.

He maintained that the ongoing process is aimed at ensuring that Nigeria’s proposed state policing system is well-structured, legally sound and ready for implementation once the constitutional requirements have been fulfilled.